1965 Clark Cortez

[LAndy]

Good morning my fellow Retro-Riders!

Let's start this post by saying:

ALWAYS WEAR YOUR PPE!

Here's why...


These two are a bit more "graphic"

(Yes that's a lump of my face!)


(Yes, that's... my face!)

This is what happens when you use a 4.5" wire wheel in a grinder and for 1 second relax about what you're doing. The grinder shot back, hit my forehead (ripping a hole in L's Buff), coming down OVER MY EYE, hitting my cheek and then as I managed to push it back it took a chunk out of my thumb too!

Fortunately my glasses did what they we're suppose to do and saved my eye... Let's just say a few moments of reflection were required after, though I think L panic'd more than I did.

So, back to the Cortez!
More underseal has been removed, infact I'd say we're about 85% of the way done. However we discovered this.



Which turned into this.



I was working away inside when I made a hole, followed by another one, and another one (Because I've been to the year 3000, not much has... Sorry!)

Intrigued I jumped up on the roof and started from the outside, then that all too familiar smell of body filler and white powder rose through the air and 1/2" of body filler was covering more rusty, holey, crinkly metal!... Great!

Speaking of body filler...
From getting out Cortez we knew that the front passenger side had taken a knock at some point, there's damage to the bumper, 1" thick of filler barely hanging on and the door is a bit of a PITA to close. Unfortunately, curiosity got the better of my again and I stuck my wire wheel in to the passenger footwell...





Yay!

Here is the damage of the front corner.



However, as annoying as this is, we knew we'd have some welding to do, however, "some" it turning into "a lot" rather quickly but we'll get it done!

Have a great day! I'm going to enjoy it by looking out of both of my eyes and feeling grateful!

Andy

[jonomisfit]

Very glad to see PPE did what was needed.

My experience has always bedn rust is like an iceberg. The bit you know needs done is only the first 10% of what's needed.

That and at least 50% of repairs required are due to someone's bodgery not fixing it right the first time.

[blackpopracing]

Angle grinders are vicious things and should be treated with great respect. Lucky you got away with that one.

They really are too fast for wire wheels though, @grumpynorthener made a power reducer to slow one down very easily, or a paint polishing machine fits the same wire brush threads but runs at a far more reasonable speed. It still strips paint just as well but rather than approx 14,000 rpm its somewhere around 6,000 rpm.

[bstardchild]

May 11, 2020 14:55:07 GMT blackpopracing said:

Angle grinders are vicious things and should be treated with great respect. Lucky you got away with that one.

They really are too fast for wire wheels though, @grumpynorthener made a power reducer to slow one down very easily, or a paint polishing machine fits the same wire brush threads but runs at a far more reasonable speed. It still strips paint just as well but rather than approx 14,000 rpm its somewhere around 6,000 rpm.

For zip wheels (the most bstard tool ever and should be treated with huge respect) and strip discs I often use my rotary polishing machine has a load of different speeds starting from I think 600 rpm and upwards

Strip discs on an angry grinder often break free from the backing - there are still several at the back of my garage that I haven’t found yet

[grizz]

Glad you are both well.

Small flesh wounds are a great way to be reminded as to why you are wearing PPE.

Firstly it reminds you those machines need PPE because they are barstewards.

Secondly, they remind you to concentrate. Most of my ooops moments have been as result of lost concentration

I am sure you knew there was remedial work to be done, sorry it seems to be iceberg shaped.

Good luck and keep at it, your team will win.

[Deleted]

May 11, 2020 14:55:07 GMT blackpopracing said:

Angle grinders are vicious things and should be treated with great respect. Lucky you got away with that one.

They really are too fast for wire wheels though, @grumpynorthener made a power reducer to slow one down very easily, or a paint polishing machine fits the same wire brush threads but runs at a far more reasonable speed. It still strips paint just as well but rather than approx 14,000 rpm its somewhere around 6,000 rpm.

I purchased one of these

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4000W-220V-Variable-Voltage-Controller-Control-For-Fan-Speed-Motor-Dimmer-UK/264724542967?hash=item3da2cff5f7:g:hPIAAOSwby5etSWT

Which halves the speed of my 11,000 RPM angle grinders - you can purchase variable speed angle grinders but they are at least twice if not three times the price of a normal grinder - this controller will do the same job but for peanuts - surely you could find something like that in the States

Secondly I have one of these which has saved me from serious injury on several occasions



Its a 3M G500 face shield - comfortable to wear and I can wear my glasses & dust mask under the visor - probably the best £35 that I have ever spent

[LAndy]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the kind words and advice on the variable voltage controllers, I'll look into it.

Andy

[LAndy]

Still not finished the inside but we're almost there! Like, so close!
Here are a few more photos of the rust areas we've discovered.









We also test fitted some KC fog lights in various positions, I prefer them on the bottom, L prefers them on higher - If we end up putting them higher we'll swap them from fogs to spots. Don't worry, these are only ever going to be used on less traveled roads or in dire conditions.








And finally, as everyone loves an arty photo...





This coming weekend in the States is a long one with Monday been a public holiday in the form of Memorial day. Hopefully we'll get the interior completely stripped before moving onto the roof!

Andy

[blackpopracing]

May 20, 2020 17:54:05 GMT LAndy said:

And finally, as everyone loves an arty photo...



TAndy

You've shrunk it!!! it's only 2" long

[rblote]

I like these lights on the bumper bar. You could do a light bar on the top. I find lights on the roof trowing to much light back in the cabin.

[07lilredwagon]

Very glad you are okay after that close call.

I will be more careful myself next time I handle the grinder. That variable speed controller looks great. definitely getting one.

JP

[samta22]

May 20, 2020 17:54:05 GMT LAndy said:

This one for me Andy... not sure why, just looks 'right' IMO. As others have said if you really want something up top, try to get hold of a light bar, they really are something else.

[LAndy]

May 20, 2020 21:32:11 GMT blackpopracing said:

May 20, 2020 17:54:05 GMT LAndy said:

And finally, as everyone loves an arty photo...



TAndy

You've shrunk it!!! it's only 2" long

I wish! It would be far quicker to restore! Ha ha!... Camping in it might get tricky though!

May 21, 2020 1:08:17 GMT rblote said:

I like these lights on the bumper bar. You could do a light bar on the top. I find lights on the roof trowing to much light back in the cabin.

Thanks rblote! We'd not really considered a light bar as we still want it to look classic from a distance, up close we'll be adding new headlights, LED reverse, indicators and tail lights. That's why we went for the Classic looking KC lights. Maybe we could go for a row of them? I'm not sure at the moment. Also, thanks for the feedback on the lights putting extra light in the cabin - I'd not thought of that! We've actually got an overhang of the roof - maybe 5"? So this could help prevent it? I'm not sure.

May 21, 2020 3:40:30 GMT 07lilredwagon said:

Very glad you are okay after that close call.

I will be more careful myself next time I handle the grinder. That variable speed controller looks great. definitely getting one.

JP

Thannks JP! Me too! My right eye is my good one!
I always think it something happens please let it be the left eye - I have astigmatism and keratoconus in my left eye but my right is perfect.
Yea, I didn't even know about the controllers to be honest. I'll be looking into one too!

May 21, 2020 9:37:39 GMT samta22 said:

May 20, 2020 17:54:05 GMT LAndy said:

This one for me Andy... not sure why, just looks 'right' IMO. As others have said if you really want something up top, try to get hold of a light bar, they really are something else.

This is my favorite too, just need to convince L now.
(I think it may be a job I do one day by myself! Ha Ha!

[bazzateer]

May 7, 2020 0:39:20 GMT LAndy said:

bazzateer cool! They do predominantly seem to all be on the west coast with a couple in the middle and then about 3 (known) on the east cost! Does your friend still have it?

No, he moved it on some years ago.

[LAndy]

Ey up y'all! (I'm starting to mix my Yorkshire with my Virginian)

After a short hiatus from YouTube we've finally released a new video! You've already seen alot of photos of the work but the video is more entertaining!

You get to see a sword fight (I win!)
You get to see my fight an angle grinder (I lose!)
You get to see excitement
You get to see sadness!

Enjoy!

[thomfr]

May 20, 2020 17:54:05 GMT LAndy said:

Nice hood (bonnet) ornament! ;-)

Thom

[LAndy]

Ha ha! Thanks Thom! Needs a bit of maintenance every now and then but looks great!

[LAndy]

It's been a few weeks since we've done anything on the Cortez, I went over to it last week to take some measurements for a new radiator (Just want to fit a larger one eventually) but I was only there for around 15 mintues.

Today we popped over to get some extra footage and audio for our next video (should be ready for Monday) and while L was taking a photo I notice a rather large wasp fly into the engine bay through the grille.

A rather tentative look inside introduced me too this.



I believe it is a Black and Yellow mud dauber wasp (aka Evil winged B*****D... I HATE wasps, SO BAD!).
So now we need to get rid of the new mini hive - A can of Raid has been purchased and tomorrows mission is to take a double dose of brave pills and get rid of them!

From the quick bit of reseach it seems like these wasps aren't the worst thing that could have setup home in the Cortez but still, they ain't welcome!

Here's a photo of the Cortez with the overgrown grass under it! It would have been nice if whoever mowed could have told us they'd hit the front bumper!



Thanks for stopping by!

Andy&L

[PhilA]

Broom handle, flick it away onto the floor, step back a bit. That's only little.

Once the angry one building it goes away, stamp on that. Spray a scootch of raid in corner where nest was as deterrent. Drop can and rub eyes wailing like a baby because you didn't realize how fast the Raid sprays and got it all splashed up in your face and now your eyes burn.

Once you can see through the tears, spray a bit around the periphery of the vehicle where it's parked. Time of the year for them. The red ones are worse. Polistes-anything are nasty. Raid sprays very fast- keep back a few feet and press carefully. Turn your head away because it sits splatter all over if you spray it into a corner or onto a surface.

Hint: in summer, don't stick your hands or head up into any outside space until you've given it a cursory visual first. They like to build up in wheel arches, up under suspension usually near an outside edge where they are sheltered from the rain.

Phil

[LAndy]

Well an absolute soaking of raid managed to kill who was there. I knocked it out of the engine bay and I didn't die... Which was nice!

Currently hooving out all of the powdered underseal which has compacted itself EVERYWHERE! It's currently 30oC and 60% humidity here in Virginia today so I'm rather moist shall we say.